
HONESTY
LESSON 5 January 23-29
"Recompense to no man evil for
evil. Provide things honest in the sight
of all men" (Rom. 12:17).
Honesty includes those traits of
character held by a person who does
not lie, cheat, or steal. A week's lesson
has been devoted to truthfulness. This
week we will note honesty, primarily
from the viewpoint of not cheating or
stealing. However, lying is so close a
partner to cheating and stealing that it
is nearly unavoidable that we shall
sometimes refer to it also.
When we emphasize love as a basic
element in the Christian's life, we see
that honesty is a vital aspect in the
expression of one's love to God and to
his neighbor. In the Christian context
it is impossible to imagine the
existence of a love that does not
respect another'S reputation or
possessions.
The eighth commandment says:
"Thou shalt not steal" (Ex. 20:15). The
SDA Bible Commentary, vol.
1. p. 606,
points out that "Here the right to
possess property is set forth, a right
that is to be respected by others. For
society to exist at all, this principle
must be safeguarded, else there is no
security and no protection. All would
be anarchy."
Ellen White gives this specific
instruction: "In every business
transaction a Christian will be just
what hewants his brethren to think he
is. His course of action is guided by
underlying principles. He does not
scheme; therefore he has nothing to
conceal, nothing to gloss over. He may
be criticized, he maybe tested, but his
-
_unbending integrity will shine forth
'like pure gold. He is a blessing to all
connected with him, for his word is
trustworthy. He is a man who will not
take an advantage of his neighbor. He
is a friend and benefactor to all, and
his fellow men put confidence in his
counsel. . . . A truly honest man will
never take advantage of weakness or
incompetency in order to fill his own
purse. He accepts a fair equivalent for
that which he sells. If there are defects
in the articles sold, he frankly tells his
brother or his neighbor, although by
so doing he may work against his own
pecuniary interests.
"In all the details of life the strictest
principles of honesty are to be
maintained. These are not the
principles which govern our world, for
Satan, deceiver, liar, and oppressor is
the master, and his subjects follow
him and carry out his purposes. But
Christians serve under a different
Master, and their actions must be
wrought in God, irrespective of all
selfish gain."—My
Life Today,
p. 330.
"We are commanded to love God
supremely, and our neighbor as
ourselves; but the daily experience of
life shows that this law is disregarded.
Uprightness in deal and moral
integrity will secure the favor of God,
and make a man a blessing to himself
and to society; but amid the varied
temptations that assail one whichever
way he may turn, it is impossible to
keep a clear conscience and the
approval of heaven without divine aid
and a principle to love honesty for the
sake of the right."—Ellen G. White
Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 3, p. 1158.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Cultivating an Honest Mind (Phil.
4:8)
2.
Deviousness (Prov. 3:28, 29)
3.
Ethics in Business (Prov. 20:10, 14)
4.
A Workman's Ethics (Ex. 38:23)
5.
Honesty in Doctrine (2 Cor. 4:2)
6.
Mercy to the Repentant (Prov.
28:13)